Computer apparatus



April 19, 1949. G. AGxNs COMPUTER APPARATUS Original Filed Jply 18, 1940 T w T U 0 N/ .R3 m2 h m AM T U P 0 N c. o@ .A el'.

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taining a voltage proportional Patented Apr. 19, 1949 2.4mm y COMPUTER APPARATUSI George Agins, Brooklyn, NQY., asslgnor to Arma Corporation, Brooklin, N. Yi, a corporation of New York originel application July 1s, 1940, serial Ne. 346,188. Divided and this application December e, 194s, sei-iai No. 114,609

7 claims. (ci. zas-s1) This invention -relates to computers and has particular reference to electromechanical computers for electrically resolving trigonometric functions from variable angles and radii.

This application is a division of my copending application. SerialNo. 346,;183, illed July 18, i940, for Computer, now abandoned.

In accordance with theinvention, a potential or induction regulator comprising relatively movable rotor and stator, each having independent windings in space quadrature, is utilized as an electric resolver, the rotor being displaced in accordance with an langular input, and potential input is impressed on one of the windings for resolving or composing the input factors trigonometricaily to produce output voltages which may be converted into proportional angular displacements oi a member at a corresponding rate and through corresponding angular or linear distance.

It will be seen that, by means oi the electromechanical computer of this invention, a resultant vector may be resolved into two mutually perpendicular component vectors; that, conversely. two mutually perpendicular vectors may be composed inio a resultant vector. 'I'he computer mayalso be utilised to obtain i'rom angular displacements voltages which are proportional to` the trigonometric functions of the angles of displacement. The output of the computer is accordingly available either for actuating an indicator, to provide data for use in further calculations, or for energizing or actuating `follow-up means for eifecting the positioning of mechanical members by other driving means, or for directly` driving. another computeror a mechanical member, and the like.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a potential regulator utilized as an electric resolver in accordance with this invention for continuously providing voltages proportional to functions of angular displacement angles between the rotor andstator thereof: i

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an arrangement of this invention for continuously ob-` taining a voltage proportional. to the tangent function of an angular input: and

Figure 3' is a schematic illustration of an arrangement of this invention for continuously obto the secant function of an angular input.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, numeral 2 Il designates a potential or induction regulator comprising a drum-shaped laminated iron rotor lR. rotatable about a cylindrical laminated iron stator S. Positioned in slots in the stator S are two independent windings il and I2 in space quadrature. Similarly positioned in slots on the inner surface of the rotor R are two independent windings Il and Il in space quadrature.

The potential regulator l0 so constructed is used as an electric resolver by rotating the rotor R relatively to the stator S to change the mutual inductance lbetween the primary and secondary windings. The rotor R may Ibe revolved by a shaft, gearing or the like. In the embodiment shown, rotor winding I3 is utilized as the primary winding and the two stator windings Il and I2 serve as the secondary windings. The null ro- -tor winding Il is not used in this case. Thus, as is indicated diagrammatically in Figure l, the magnitude of the alternating current voltage r which is applied to the primary winding Il from any suitable source such as the potentiometer Pi, for example, is representative of the radius input to the resolver, and the angular displacement of the rotor R. from its zero or non-inductive position is the angle 0 input to the resolver. For simplicity, the maximum ratio of voltage transformation between the rotor and stator windings is considered to be 1 to l, but obviously other ratios may be used as desired or required.

In operation of the arrangement of Figure i. with a mechanical input of angle 0, and an electrical input representative of radius r from the potentiometer Pi, the mutual inductance between the primary Awinding i3 and the secondary windingsl i. i2, of the potential regulator lli, produces .an alternating current voltage equal to r sin 0 across the terminals of secondary winding ii which may be indicated by any suitable indicating instrument M1. for example, and also simultaneously produces an alternating current voltage equal to r cos 0 across the terminals of secondary winding i2, which may be indicated by any suitable indicating instrument Mz, for example. It will be understood that the secondary voltages are always practically in time phase with, or in time phase opposition to, the primary voltage, depending upon the sign of the sine and cosine functions of the angle 0.

Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement utilizing the potential regulator Hl for obtaining the functionz tan 0, where the electrical input voltage x is applied to the stator Winding i2 as shown, from a suitable potentiometer Pa, for example.

The null winding I4 of regulator III is connected to the input terminals 2| 'of the electronic amplifler 22, the output terminals of which are connected to the terminals of stator winding I I. The electronic amplifier 22 may be of any suitable high gain type.

In operation of the arrangement of Figure 2, ifl rotor R of regulator IIJ is turned by means of shaft 9 through the angle 0 from its zero position,v the null winding I4 is displaced to the angle 0+90 from zero position and from stator winding I2, since winding I4 is displaced 90 from winding I3, which determines angle 6. The energization of stator winding I2 at voltage a: from the potentiometer P3, results in induction of a voltage in null winding I4, which is impressed on amplifier 22, whose output is supplied to stator winding Il of the regulator IIJ.

Due to the inverse feed-back connections of the amplifier 22 to the regulator III, the resultant voltage induced in the rotor winding I4 by reason of energization of stator windings II and I2 will be zero if the voltage applied to stator winding I I is equal to :z: tan 0. However, inasmuch as zero voltage in null winding I4 causes zero input to amplier 22, the resultant voltage induced in null winding I4 must be a small value which causes Athe amplified voltage applied to stator winding II to differ by a small amount from the ideal :i: tan 9 voltage. YThis small voltage 4 The voltage induced in stator winding. I2 as the result of energization of rotor winding I3 is proportional to r cos 0, which opposes the input voltage :I: supplied from the potentiometer Ps. Thus, when r cos voltage becomes equal to a: input voltage, vthe input to amplifier 22 is zero. However, the r cos 0 voltage must differ from a; input voltage by a small amount in order that the ampliiier 22 will produce any output r voltage. Since the amplifier 22 is of the high gain type, the error in the value of i is of negligible magnitude, and the output voltage of the amplifier is proportional to a: sec 0 as is shown by the followdiiIerence depends upon the gain of the ampliiier 22, and when a high gain amplifier is used, the error is of negligible magnitude. Accordingly, for all practical purposes, the output voltage y of the ampliiier 22 is proportional to x tan 0 and may be indicated by any suitable indicating instrument M3 connected to the take-off connections 28 in Figure 2. As may be illustrated by the following equations: l

y sin (6H-90) -I-x cos (IH-90) =0 y cos (9e-:c sin 0:0

sin 6 cos 0 Similarly, if the output of amplifier 22 is applied to stator winding I2 instead of to winding II, and is of magnitude I, and an electrical input of y is supplied to stator winding II, it follows that theoutput voltage of the amplifier 22 is proportional to y cot 6. as is shown by the following equations:

y sin (0A-90) -I-:c cos (9-I-90) =0 y cos H-:n sin 6:0

=y cot@ The electrical output in either case, :c tan 0 or y cot 0 may be utilized for proportionately energizing a motor for actuating an indicator or other mechanical element, or for controlling a follow-up mechanism, or as an electrical input of that value to subsequent computing or calculating mechanism, or the like.

Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement for obtaining the function :c sec 0 where a: is the electrical input from the potentiometer P3, for example, and is connected in series opposition with the stator winding I2 of regulator Ill and in series with the. input terminals 2| of electronic amplier 22, whose output 1' is impressed on the winding I3 of rotor R of regulator IIl.

In operation of the arrangement of Figure 3, the rotor R of regulator I Il is rotated by means of shaft 9 through the angle 0 from zero position.

ing equationsi t Similarly, if, in Figure 3, the electrical input is impressed on stator winding II instead of on stator winding I2, and the input voltage applied to theA series circuit has a magnitude y, the output voltage r of the ampliiier 22 is proportional to ycsc 9, as is shown by the following equations:

Accordingly, with the various arrangements illustrated, and equivalents or obvious modications thereof, many trigonometric functions in terms of output voltages may be continuously obtained, as well as displacements of mechanical elements from trigonometric voltage inputs and the like. As indicated, the computer of this invention has wide and varied application for continuously solving problems incident to variable angle and vector determination and for continuously developing mechanical movements or dis placements, such as for gun iire control purposes.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but is susceptible of changes in form and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An electromechanical computer for electrically making computations involving a resultant vector, the rectangular component vectors of said resultant vector, and an angle between said resultant vector and one of said component vectors, the combination of a potential regulator having at least two windings capable of relative movement with respect to one another, high gain electric amplifying means interposed between said two windings and connected to provide inverse feedback between the output and input of saidl amplifying means through the inductive coupling between said windings, means for producing a relative displacement between said two windings in accordance with said angle between the resultant vector and one of said component vectors, means for introducing into the circuit of one of said windings a voltage that is a function of one of said vectors, and an output circuit connected to the output terminals of said amplifying means. y

2. In an electromechanical computer for electrically making computations involving a resultant vector, the rectangular component vectors of said resultant vector, and an angle'between said resultant vector and one of said component vectors, the combination of a potential regulator having a pair of windings'disposed in space quadrature with respect to one another and having another winding capable of relative movement with respect to said pair, electrical means supp lying an alternating current representative of said pair of windings and said another winding in accordance with said angle between the resultant vector and one of said component vec-v tors, whereby the input to the other winding of said pair which is supplied by said output is representative of another of said vectors.

3. In an electromechanical computer for electrically making computations involving a resultant vector, the rectangular component vectors of said resultant vector, and an angle between said resultant vector and one of said com- Iponent`vectors, the combination of a potential regulator having a pair of windings capable of relative angular displacement with respect to one another, electrical means for supplying to one of the windings of said pair an alternating current representative of one of said vectors, high gain amplifier means receiving an input from the circuit of said one winding and supplying an output to the other winding of said pair and connected to provide inverse feedback between the output and input of said amplifier means through the inductive coupling between said windings, an output circuit connected to said'other winding, and means for producing relative angular displacement of said windings in accordance with said angle between the resultant vector and one of said component vectors.

4. In an electromechanical computer, the combination of a potential regulator comprising relatively movable primary and secondary trans. former members, one of which has at least one winding and the other of which has two windings in space quadrature, means for energizing one of said two windings, means for displacing the other member a predetermined angle, whereby there is induced in said oneA winding a voltage proportional to a trigonometric function of the angle' of displacement, and means responsive to said induced voltage forA developing a substantially equal voltage to balance the same, the reformer members, one of which has one winding and the other of which has 4two windings in space quadrature, means for energizing one of said two windings, means for displacing the other member a predetermined angle to induce a corresponding voltage in said one winding, an amplifier, connections between said one winding and the input of said amplifier, and means for impressing the output of said amplifier on the other of said two windings for inducing a secondary voltage in said one winding which is equal to a trigonometric function of the displacement of said other member.

6. In an electromechanical computer, the combination of a potential regulator comprising relatively movable primary and secondary transformer members, one of which has one winding and the other of which has two windings in space quadrature, means for energizing one of said two windings, means for displacing the other member a predetermined angle, to induce a corresponding voltage in said one winding, a high gain electronic amplifier, connections between said one winding and the input to said amplifier, and connections between the output of said amplifier and the other of said two windings, whereby the voltage induced in said one winding is zero when the voltage applied to the other of said two windings is equal to a function of the angle of displacement of said other member.

7. In an electromechanical computer, the combination of a potential regulator comprising relatively movable primary and secondary transformer members, each having at least one winding, an amplifier, a source of input voltage connected in series opposition with one of said windings and in series with the input to said amplifier, connections between the output of said amplifler and the winding for the other member,

said connections providing inverse feedback between the output and input of said amplier through the inductive coupling between said windings, and means for displacing said other member through a that the voltage induced in said one winding is equal to said input voltage whereby the output voltage of said amplifier is equal to a secant sponse of said last-named means being in ac-v o cordance with said displacement.

5. In an electromechanical computer, the combination of a potential regulator comprising relatively movable Drimary and secondary transfunction of the angle of displacement.

GEORGE AGINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES iATENTs Bedford June 18, 1946 predetermined -angle such 

